<p>My high- functioning autistic son has had no accomodations through the first three years of high school. He attained a 3.7 unweighted and a 33 on the ACTs. </p>
<p>He had a devastating shock early in September of his senior year and fell into a depression of which he is still recovering (late Nov) with the help of medication and the guidance of a psychiatrist. Autistics have a very difficult time with transitions so I am pleased this episode happened while at home and not as a freshman in college. It is a necessary step for his maturity. </p>
<p>His grades are now all failing due to his missed work.</p>
<p>Do you have any suggestions on next steps, how this should be presented to colleges, how colleges respond, etc.</p>
<p>I’m sorry your son is having a difficult time, but I’m glad he’s accepting treatment and doing better. Many aspies are very reluctant. These are great questions to be asking right now. TBH my biggest concern would not be how to present this to colleges in the best way possible (although that needs to be addressed). My concern would be an open, honest evaluation of the schools he is applying to, the support systems in place, and what would have happened if there were a similar break at school. Do those schools have a proper support for aspies? Is the school close enough to home that you can be there quickly in a crisis or if you just sense something is not right? These are questions I would be asking.</p>
<p>There are a couple of parents here that have experience with kids on the spectrum in college that can give you great advise. I’m hoping they’ll see your thread and chime in. Our choice was to start our son at the local cc.</p>
<p>Could he start out at a school in your immediate area, and stay in a dorm? From our family’s experience (mental illness), that’s what I would recommend. Dealing with a child in crisis many miles away is HARD. We left our son at his school after his initial crisis, thinking we had many supports in place (including my parents). But it was just too much for him. He’s now attending our local small school and much happier.</p>
<p>I know your situation is different, but seeing how he does with you nearby at first might be wise. Good luck - I know how difficult it is to make these decisions.</p>
<p>Have you spoken to his teachers? Is he truly going to fail classes? Sounds like you need to deal with that issue first. Can you withdraw him for medical reasons? Take incompletes and let him make up the classes?</p>
<p>I would postpone graduation another year while he gets things straightened out. I am not sure if a student with a 504 plan has the same rights as a student with an IEP? A student with an IEP doesn’t have to graduate until 21.
My son stayed an extra year, which is allowing him to work on life skills as well as additional AP courses since my district didn’t track him in honors classes.</p>
<p>If not, I would keep him close and figure out what the triggers were that lead to his breakdown. A reduced course load really helped my son , hence the extra year-</p>
<p>Great idea. As the saying goes, it’s a marathon, not a race.</p>
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<p>As my son and I have learned, that 33 ACT means nothing once you have even one semester of college under your belt. Move slowly and carefully and trust your gut. Don’t listen to any who might tell you that “he’ll do fine” or “he’ll grow out of it” or “he needs to sink or swim” or “don’t be such a helicoptor.” All of that conventional wisdom does not apply to you or your son.</p>
<p>My son has AS and is a freshman in college.</p>
<p>Choosing the right school is critical. They need to have people who truly understand AS as well as services for students with AS. Your child needs to at least be willing and able to put those resources to use as well.</p>
<p>My son did a summer program at his first choice college. They offered something he liked and knew it would make his transition easier. He also took Saturday classes in HS at his first choice college. He also is in school close to home. My son is very high functioning but all these strategies were still necessary. He’s needed support so far this year that wouldn’t have been there for him if we sent him far away to an unfamiliar place. Keep that in mind.</p>
<p>Having a relationship with a college will make explaining things easier.</p>
<p>What exactly was the shock? And does it parallel something he might encounter when he is in college?</p>
<p>MaineLonghorn seem right on target- you have to prioritize proximity in the college selection process at this point. If he is 8 hours a way you would be frantic if you get a weird phone call. Pick the radius that makes sense to you, but being close enough to keep his current psychologist could be a big advantage.</p>
<p>Another thing, Aspies may find it hard to function on their own. My S is majoring in what is basically his special interest. He gets so absorbed into it, he forgets to eat, shower and sleep properly.</p>
<p>He has done some phenomenal work that I think will one day be recognized as brilliant but life skills are still a work in progress. Again, keeping them close while fostering independence is a good strategy.</p>
<p>I did not know I had responses to my question. Pardon!</p>
<p>S squeaked through his first semester with lots of help from the school, just yesterday. He is now on a 504 plan and i do not know if he has the option to extend his schooling. </p>
<p>His top choice is an hour away and as long as he gets Cs as a senior, he is fine (UCs) If he is not ready, the local CC (Foothill) is known to have a great program in his interest, gaming.</p>
<p>I think he is finally opening up to options like a gap year etc.</p>
<p>His neurotypical GF dumped him late one night in Sept. and his whole world crashed … All of his supposed friends turned out to be hers … A crash I felt was inevitable because he was running on his middle school coping skills. It was time to transition to adulthood.</p>
<p>He has been transitioning onto two medications and off one so we have been on a roller coaster. Thing have settled down but he is having issues with motivation and anxiety.</p>
<p>Time and finding a variety of things he enjoys are the next steps … And making sure I keep myself moving forward.</p>